CHR to probe increase in number of inmates’ deaths under police custody

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday said it would investigate the reported increase in the number of inmates who died under police custody.

This comes after the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) revealed that over 450 inmates have died under police custody since July 2016.

“The appalling situation of inmates in over-congested and dilapidated detention facilities is in itself a gross violation of the rights of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) as it has led to deaths and a lot of health and sanitation problems among prisoners,” CHR spokesperson Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement.

Further, the commission said that the inmates shall be treated with “with full respect and dignity as human beings and shall always be given protection against cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.”

“Authorities’ direct denial of basic needs to inmates such as clean water supply, food, medicines, sleeping quarters among others, is a disregard of the Constitution and the minimum standards set by the UN for prisoners,” De Guia said.

For CHR, “authorities’ use of unnecessary force against PDLs inside jails must never be tolerated.”

“The Commission understands that law enforcement groups are implementing tighter security measures to avoid entry of contrabands and curb illegal activities inside prisons but this does not justify any form of abuse behind bars,” De Guia said.

The PNP-IAS, which is tasked to look into alleged police abuses, said it would map out the cause of the inmates’ deaths.

De Guia said that administrative and criminal complaints must be filed against erring cops who were proven guilty of abuse.

“The Commission is hopeful that the investigation will yield a more targeted solution in alleviating the condition of our prisoners given their unique vulnerabilities to experience abuse,” De Guia said.

“The Commission will conduct its own investigation and hopes to have open coordination with the  PNP-IAS in probing into these deaths and coming up with recommendations in accordance with human rights standards,” she added.

Cannot be solved in a matter of days

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) spokesperson Major Wena Dalagan, however, said that the problems in correctional facilities cannot be solved in a matter of days, especially as the bureau is still in its transition period following a change in its leadership.

“Please understand that we are in transition. Inabutan natin ang problema na ‘yan [so] inaayos natin,” Dalagan said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

But Dalagan said BuCor is “open” to the probe of the human rights commission.

“We are open to that. Mas maganda para makatulong din sila i-tap yung ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan para matulungan ang mga PDL na may sakit sa BuCor,” Dalagan said.

(We are open to that. It is better so that they can also help tap other government agencies to help sickly PDLs under BuCor.)